COLUMBUSState Senator Bob Peterson (R-Washington Court House) recently announced the approval by the Ohio Controlling Board of $12.1 million in funding to assist Ohios colleges and universities as they operate remotely throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

At this weeks Controlling Board meeting, Peterson voted in favor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education establishing the Last Mile Enhancement Program, in partnership with the Ohio Academic Resources Network. This program will increase broadband capacity at up to 40 universities throughout Ohio, including Ohio Christian University, University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College, Southern State Community College and Wilmington College in Petersons district.

As schools adapt to the challenges of the pandemic with online and hybrid classroom options, many have experienced an increased burden on their broadband systems and have been unable to meet the demand for online learning, Peterson said. I am pleased that our colleges and universities will soon be able to better provide remote learning options.

The Last Mile Enhancement Program will increase broadband capacity to 10-Gigabit per second at colleges and universities that currently have a broadband capacity of 1-Gigabit per second or less, improving their ability to provide essential educational services to their students.

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Peterson announces funding to increase college broadband capacity - Record Herald